What’s Recently Happened
With the second semester well under way at La Lumiere, the student body has gotten back into its daily school routine. From attending classes to after school sports and activities, the campus has fallen back into the normal swing of things. However, with the beginning of a new semester some things have changed for many of the students such as new classes, different schedules, and new Wednesday electives.
Every Wednesday at the end of the school day, students have one hour set aside for them to participate in one of the many clubs, activities, or classes offered by various faculty and students. The goal of this is to provide students with an opportunity to engage in something they are passionate about or for them to try something new that they have never done before.
Whether it be doing community service by volunteering at the local animal shelter, learning the sport of badminton or a handbell club, students have much variety in what they can do during this time period.
Clare Frawley, a current senior at La Lumiere, has had the chance to be a part of the Humane Society elective, a community service club in which a group of students go to the humane society to volunteer every week.
“Wednesday electives give me an opportunity to go do community service outside of school during school hours,” said Frawley. “This allows me the chance to help the community during a scheduled time every week even during a school day.”
However, while there are a hefty amount of clubs, sometimes students have an interest in a certain activity or hobby. If there is a club or activity that a student would like to have, but is not available, students are always encouraged to start up a new club.
While students have only been able to attend their Wednesday electives once this semester, many are looking forward to continuing to try new things as well as to share their hidden passions with those around them.
What’s Coming Up
With spring break just around the corner, a lot is happening over the course of the next few weeks at La Lumiere.
On Wednesday Feb. 9, the La Lumiere French students will host a celebration of La Chandleur, a holiday celebrated in France annually on Feb. 2. Due to the snowstorm last week, which prevented school from having the celebrations then, this was moved to the following week. During the lunch periods on Feb. 9, the French students will prepare fresh crepes in the French room and serve them to the rest of the school.
Then on Saturday Feb. 12, the La Lu Players will present their play "The Crucible," written by Arthur Miller. The drama students have been hard at work for the past four months, and are looking forward to presenting their play to the school next week with performances on Feb. 12, and on Feb. 15-17.
Even though spring break is right around the corner, students are looking forward to the next few weeks and to supporting their classmates in their endeavors.
Staff Spotlight
Jamie Denten, assistant academic dean and social department chair, is in her second year at La Lumiere. Denten had a unique way of being introduced to the school, as one of her previous students told her about it. From there she instantly fell in love with the campus and the community.
Denten joined La Lumiere in the fall of 2020, and was met with a different first day of school as classes were held outside. However, it quickly became one of her favorite memories at La Lumiere.
“I will never forget how incredible teaching outside was,” said Denten. “I remember there was one day where I insisted on keeping the tent flaps open, and then it started pouring rain and we all got soaked, but it was still fun.”
Denten, along with many, was surprised at how close the community is, and finds that it makes the La Lumiere community truly special. Even though she's only been teaching at La Lumiere for a couple of years, Denten has truly found the school to be a special place. She has never found such a family bond between the students.
“Everyone in our community has a place which is a wonderful thing to be a part of,” said Denten.
Student Spotlight
Jolie Springer, a current junior at La Lumiere, was impressed by the tight-knit community environment she first found when entering La Lumiere in her freshman year of high school.
“La Lumiere is such a tight-knit community and everybody truly knows each other here,” said Springer. “When I first got to La Lumiere, I was not expecting how close the community is and how much it truly does feel like a family here.”
Springer, having been a part of the La Lumiere community for almost three years now, decided at the start of this semester to start her own Wednesday elective, a knitting club. The school had not previously offered a knitting club, but Springer, who is a big fan of knitting, decided she wanted to change that.
“I really wanted to start a knitting club because I love to knit, and we didn't have one, and so I decided to start my own,” said Springer. “The great thing about having Wednesday electives is because it's a way to do what I love outside of classes, but while still being in school.”
The knitting club has become quite a popular Wednesday Elective. Springer, while only being a junior at La Lumiere, is proving to make the most of her time in high school. She is not only proving to be a leader to those around her, but also has shown she is definitely not afraid to start something new as well.